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Cognitare is the business case club of Singapore Management University (SMU).

Formed in 2001, just a year after the university’s incorporation, the club has been represented by some of the keenest and sharpest minds of SMU. The name Cognitare, derived from the Latin word “cognoscere” meaning “to know”, reflects the club’s commitment to learning – from faculty advisors, alumni, seniors and peers. Juniors learn extensively through rigorous training sessions involving the analysis and presentation of business cases.

Cognitare’s core activity is participating in business case competitions globally. At competitions, teams are posed with a real business problem that they must find a solution to. Teams are expected to analyse and solve the business case within a specified period of time, typically 24 hours.

This requires them to draw on their knowledge across a wide array of disciplines such as finance, marketing, psychology, accounting, economics and management. Teams then have to present their solutions to a panel comprising industry practitioners and the host university’s faculty.